Suvra Mukherjee

Suvra Mukherjee
Mukherjee during the "At home" ceremony, 2012
First Lady of India
In role
25 July 2012 – 18 August 2015
PresidentPranab Mukherjee
Preceded byDevisingh Ransingh Shekhawat
Succeeded bySavita Kovind (2017)
Personal details
Born(1940-09-17)17 September 1940
Narail, Bengal, British India
Died18 August 2015(2015-08-18) (aged 74)
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Spouse
​
(m. 1957)​
Children3, including Sharmistha Mukherjee and Abhijit Mukherjee

Suvra Mukherjee (17 September 1940 – 18 August 2015) was the First Lady of India serving from the year 2012 until her death in 2015.

Early and personal life

Mukherjee was born on 17 September 1940 to a Bengali Brahmin family in Jessore District of Bengal Presidency (now in Bangladesh ),[1] and moved to Calcutta when she was 10 years old.[2] She married Pranab Mukherjee on 13 July 1957 and the couple had two sons and a daughter.[2] She held two master's degrees, in history and in political science[3][4] and also taught history and English grammar during the early 1970s in West Midnapore.[4]

Mukherjee, was an accomplished singer and a vocalist of songs composed by Rabindranath Tagore, which are known as Rabindra Sangeet. She performed in his dance-dramas for many years in India, Europe, Asia and Africa,[5] as well as being the founder of the Geetanjali Troupe, whose mission is to disseminate Tagore's philosophy through song and dance.[6] The group often rehearsed in her home on Talkatora Road.[7] She passed on her love of classical dance to her daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee,[8] with whom she also occasionally performed.[9] She was also a painter who participated in both group and solo exhibitions.[10]

Mukherjee authored two books: Chokher Aloey is a personal account of her close interaction with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Chena Achenai Chin is a travelogue recounting her visit to China. She also supported singer Kumar Sanu and released many of his musical albums related Rabindra Sangeet and religious music.[2]

Death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to the remains of First Lady Suvra Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan

Mukherjee died in a hospital in New Delhi, India, aged 74. She had respiratory problems and was treated as a heart patient.[11]

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India said: "... (she) will be remembered as a lover of art, culture and music. Her warm nature endeared her to everyone she met".[12] Her friend, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh who attended the funeral stated: "Bangladesh has lost a great friend and well-wisher with her passing away".[13]

References

  1. ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee's wife Suvra passes away". Deccan Chronicle. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Suvra Mukherjee: What you didn't know about President Pranab Mukherjee's wife". Zee News. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ^ Sabha 2000, p. 379.
  4. ^ a b Jana, Naresh (24 July 2012). "Wife's Days As Teacher". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  5. ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee's wife Suvra Mukherjee dies at 74". The Economic Times. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  6. ^ Das, Madhuparna (20 August 2015). "With Suvra Mukherjee's Demise, Gitanjali Troup Will Not Be the Same Again". Economic Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. ^ Chowdhury, Jayanta Roy (28 February 2011). "Mrs FM's aam-aadmi Tune". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. ^ Ramachandran, Smriti Kak (8 September 2013). "Everyone in Mumbai, Delhi Seems to Want a Free Ticket". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  9. ^ Das, Mohua (12 January 2011). "Dancer Who Happens to Be 'His' Daughter". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Profile of First Lady Mrs Suvra Mukherjee" (PDF). President of India. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  11. ^ Jha, Durgesh Nandan (18 August 2015). "Suvra Mukherjee, President Pranab Mukherjee's wife, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. ^ "PM condoles the passing away of First Lady Mrs. Suvra Mukherjee". Office of the Prime Minister of India. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Hasina pays tributes to Suvra Mukherjee". Newage. Retrieved 20 October 2015.

Bibliography

  • Sabha, India Parliament Rajyya (2000). Who's who. Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
Honorary titles
Preceded byas First Gentleman of India First Lady of India
2012–2015 		Vacant
Title next held by
Savita Kovind